The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPS&W) on February 13, 2026, notified regarding the implementation of New Maritime Laws.
The following has been stated:
• To implement the newly enacted maritime legislations — the Coastal Shipping Act, 2025, Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, and Indian Ports Act, 2025 — the Government has undertaken an extensive rule-making and capacity-building exercise through a structured consultative process. Multiple technical committees with nodal officers from the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) and industry experts have been constituted to draft rules under these Acts.
• Specifically, 12 committees were formed for the Merchant Shipping Act and 2 for the Coastal Shipping Act, while separate consultative meetings were held for rule-making under the Indian Ports Act. Legal consultants have been engaged to simplify drafting, and a dedicated legal vertical has been created within DGS to ensure timely implementation.
• Draft Merchant Shipping Rules were placed on the DGS and Ministry websites for public comments in December 2025 and January 2026. In compliance with Section 39(1) of the Coastal Shipping Act, draft rules relating to Licensing of Foreign Vessels and Strategy and National Database were published in the Gazette of India in December 2025 for stakeholder feedback.
• Similarly, draft rules under Sections 76 and 78 of the Indian Ports Act were notified in January 2026, after consultations with Major Port Authorities, State Maritime Boards, and industry bodies.
• No rules were required under the Bills of Lading Act, 2025, and Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 2025, and both came into force on 10 September 2025. The Government has clarified that review and reform of maritime laws remains a continuous process based on stakeholder inputs and expert recommendations.
[Press release id: 2227673]
